Beats & Pieces Big Band » jazzwise

jazzwise article

Ben — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:17:16 +0000

There’s a really nice article about us and interview with me and Anton in the new Dec/Jan issue of Jazzwise, out now! Its written by the brilliant Chris Ackerley, who’s managed to make us sound a lot more eloquent than we actually are… The article is below but you’ll have to get your hands on a copy of the magazine to read it – you should be reading it anyway of course!

We were also picked out by Mike Chadwick of Jazz FM and Band on the Wall as one of the acts to look out for in 2012, cheers Mike! We certainly do have a lot planned for next year – there’s a clue elsewhere in the Jazzwise issue if you can find it but all will be revealed here in the next couple of days…

Ronnie Scott’s – 3rd August

Ben — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:35:24 +0000

I know its been a couple of weeks since the gig so this is a massively delayed post (I’ve been moving house, its been a nightmare…) but still wanted to write something because it was such a great night! We had loads of fun playing, the Kairos 4tet were awesome too, and everyone we met was lovely – except the trigger happy Soho traffic wardens, but thats another story…

Picture above by Sam Healey

There were a few really nice reviews that I thought I’d share too – I’ve taken out some quotes below and there’s a link to the full article as well:

Beats & Pieces reminded us that jazz can be pleasingly vulgar… few bands play work of this complexity with such passionate conviction. Movers and shakers such as [Colin] Towns, Matthew Herbert, Darcy James Argue and [Ben] Cottrell demonstrate that large ensembles remain a vital force in contemporary jazz.

John L Walters, The Guardian

Beats & Pieces dazzled with a glorious, full-bloodied set demonstrating all that’s good about big band jazz. The big band tradition is alive and well and living in Manchester.

Selwyn Harris, Jazzwise

Anton Hunter’s overdrive-guitar gave the rhythm section grunge and the soloists, notably altoist Sam Healey, trumpeter Nick Walters and adventurous pianist Patrick Hurley, brimmed with the fearlessness of youth

Jack Massarik, London Evening Standard

Thanks again to everyone at Ronnie’s for having us and to everyone in the audience (many travelling a fair few miles!) for being amazing… If you missed out this time, we’re back in town in November at Kings Place during the London Jazz Festival, tickets available NOW! See you then…

jazz on 3′s jazzwise chart

Ben — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:38:19 +0000

When I was buying the October issue of Jazzwise (with Charles Lloyd on the front) the other day, I realised I hadn’t actually properly read the previous issue yet (with Soweto Kinch). Finally reading through it today I was excited to see that our EP was again listed in the charts at the front of the magazine, this time listed by the team from BBC Jazz on 3 – cheers guys! Also reminded me I need to check out last week’s show on iPlayer with a live set from the Vandermark 5, highly recommended by Efpi’s Scandinavian correspondent Sam Andreae…

jazzwise cutting edge chart

Ben — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:13:58 +0000

Check out the March issue of Jazzwise (with Curios on the cover), where the Beats & Pieces EP is listed in Mike Chadwick’s Cutting Edge Chart on page 12… How exciting!

Remember you can still get your very own copy of the EP via Efpi Records but hurry as the limited edition handmade CDs are fast running out…